Adjustable pleats for garment pockets



Jan. 1, 1957 c. KELLER 2,775,770

ADJUSTABLE PLEATS FOR GARMENT POCKETS Filed May 4, 1954 GIL a? bu 9 20 9 0 :52 ii i "3 9" p; 1 5 /Z- 5 42 I INVENTOR.

J E 55 CLARIS KELLER United States Patent Ofiice Patented Jan. 1, 1957 2,775,770 ADJUSTABLE PLEATS FOR GARMENT POCKETS Claris Keller, Union, N. J. Application May 4, 1954, Serial No. 427,543 13 Claims. c1. 2-247 This invention relates to wearing apparel. More particularly, the invention has reference to a novel pocket design for garments such as childrens dresses, blouses, etc., in which adjustable groups of pleats are embodied.

One important object is to provide a pocket formation for garments in which pleats are incorporated, with said pleats being adapted to be opened completely to facilitate ironing as well as washing of the garments. Heretofore, it has been necessary to iron in the pleats, and this has been a laborious, time-consuming task. In accordance with the present invention, the pockets can be ironed in an unpleated condition, and by selective insertion of a tie through a plurality of hidden loops, and contraction of said loops by the tie, pleats can be formed and left in the pocket while the garment is being worn.

One important object is to provide a pleating for pockets in which the tie can be passed through any desired number of loops, thus to form a corresponding number of pleats, it thus being possible to form only as many pleats as may be wanted on a particular occasion.

Another object is to locate the tie and loops in a position in which they will be normally concealed from the. gaze of the casual viewer.

Still another object is to provide a construction as described in which the tie-receiving loops can be formed in a hidden tape, which tape can be adapted to reinforce the pocket or stiffen the same transversely.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view showing a garment having pockets pleated in accordance with the present invention, as it appears when worn.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the pockets, an adjacent portion of the. garment being shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the inside of the pocket, the pleats being opened.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a pocket in which is incorporated a group of pleats formed in accordance with the present invention, the surrounding portion of a garment being illustrated fragmentarily.

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of the pocket of Fig. 6, the pleats being opened and the tie removed.

In Figs. 15 there has been illustrated a childs dress 10 having pockets 12. Each pocket is of the patch type, and includes a generally rectangular pocket body 14 stitched along its sides and bottom as at 16 to the material of the dress 10.

An inner reinforcing tape 18 is extended transversely of the pocket, fully from side to side thereof, in closely spaced relation to the hemmed upper edge of the pocket, the stitching 16 passing through the ends of the tape 18. An outer reinforcing tape 20, which can be of ornamental coloring or design, is registered with the inner tape, and the tapes 18, 20 are stitched to opposite faces of the pocket body by lines of stitching 22 extending longitudinally of the tapes, at the opposite edges thereof.

In the inner tape 18, there are formed spaced pairs of slits, the slits of each pair defining between them a loop 24 extending transversely of the tape 18. The slits terminate short of the opposite longitudinal edges of the tape, with the stitching 22 passing over the ends of the slits to reinforce the loops 24 against being torn out of the body of the tape.

Any number of loops 24 can be provided, four being shown in the illustrated example. In any event, passed through the several loops is a tie 26 of ribbon or cording material, which tie is inserted in the loops after the dress has been washed and ironed. During the ironing, the pocket is ironed while flat, without its pleats. After passage of the tie through the several loops, the tie is pulled upon to contract the loops as shown in Fig. 3, and said loops when contracted will thus form a plurality of pleats 28 standing out from the pocket.

Of course, the tie can be passed through any number of loops as desired, and passage of the ties through a fewer number of loops will reduce, correspondingly, the number of pleats.

The pleats shown in Figs. 1-5 are of the arcuately rounded type when seen in cross section. In Figs. 6-9, the pleats are of a flattened type, as will presently appear.

In Figs. 6-9, the garment has been designated generally at 32 and might constitute a dress, skirt, etc. Garment 32 is provided with a pocket 34 of the patch type. Pocket 34 is attached to the fabric body 36 of the garment, and is formed with a pocket body or member 38 of suitable outer configuration and size, a generally rectangular pocket, having rounded lower corners, being illustrated in the present instance only by way of example.

A line of stitching 42 extends transversely of the pocket member, and as shown in Fig. 9, is used to secure a hem 40. Thus, the upper edge of the pocket, that is, that end of the pocket that is open, is folded upon itself before attachment of the pocket to the fabric of the garment proper, to provide the hem 40.

A line of stitching 44 extends along the side and bottom edges of the pocket, after the hem has been fashioned in the pocket, to secure the pocket to the body portion of the garment.

The hem 40, at intervals spaced transversely of the pocket, is formed with pairs of closely spaced slits. The slits define loops 46 extending transversely of the hem, one end of each loop being reinforced by the line of stitching 42, while the other end of each loop is reinforced by a short line of stitching 48 extending longitudinally of the hem.

A plurality of pleat folds 50 are formed in the material of the pocket member, before said member is secured to the body of the garment by the stitching 44. The folds 50 are in stepped arrangement, as shown in Fig. 7, and cooperate to define a plurality of pleats 52 stepped outwardly in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the pocket.

Associated with each of the pleats, at the edge of the fold forming said pleat, is a loop 46 (Fig. 7), and extending through the several loops is a tie 54 which can be knotted in place to hold the loops in closely spaced relation.

When it is desired to wash or iron the garment, the tie is opened, thus permitting the loops to' spread apart, for openingv of the pleats. This allows each pleat: to be readily formed during. the ironing, after which the tie is inserted and knotted as shown for the purpose of subsequently preventing opening of the pleats while the. garment is being worn.

it will be understood that in the pocket formation shown in Figs. 69, the type of pleat shown in Fig. 2 could be used. It also follows that the type of pleat shown in Figs. 69 could be embodied at the neck line of the garment, if desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is:

l. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface of a predetermined area facing inwardly toward the external surface of said garment and overlying a portion of said garment having an area substantially smaller than said predetermined area, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein.

2. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape.

3. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape, said body further including a second tape extending transversely of the outer surface of the body and registered with the first tape to cooperate therewith in reinforcing the pocket member.

4. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape, said body further including a second tape extending transversely of the outer surface of the body and registered with the first tape to cooperate therewith in reinforcing the pocket member, the tapes being stitched to one another and to the body by lines of stitching extending longitudinally of the tapes along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof.

5. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape, said body further including a second tape extending transversely of the outer surface of the body and registered with the first tape to cooperate therewith in reinforcing the pocket member, the tapes being stitched to one another and to the body by lines of stitching extending longitudinally of the tapes along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first-named tape having transversely extending pairs of slits, the slits of each pair defining one of said loops.

6. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape, said body further including a second tape extending transversely of the outer surface of the body and registered with the first tape to cooperate therewith in reinforcing the pocket member, the tapes being stitched to one another and to the body by lines of stitch ing extending longitudinally of the tapes along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first-named type having transversely extending pairs of slits, the slits of each pair defining one of said loops, said lines of stitching passing through the ends of each pair.

7. A pleating for a garment comprising a fabric body attachable to said garment, said body having a surface facing inwardly toward the garment, loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof, and a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member, the body including a tape extending transversely of said surface, the loops being formed in said tape, said body further including a second tape extending transversely of the outer surface of the body and registered with the first tape to cooperate therewith in reinforcing the pocket member, the tapes being stitched to one another and to the body by lines of stitching extending longitudinally of the tapes along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first-named tape having transversely extending pairs of slits, the slits of each pair defining one of said loops, said lines of stitching passing through the ends of each pair, said tie and first-named tape being spaced inwardly from the outer end of the pocket member so as to be recessed within and concealed by said pocket member.

8. A pleating. for an external surface of a washable garment comprising a fabric body attachable to the outer surface of said garment, said body having a surface of a predetermined area facing inwardly toward the outer surface of the garment and overlying a portion of said garment having an area substantially smaller than said predetermined area, spaced loops carried by the body on the inwardly facing surface thereof and adjacent one edge thereof, a tie extendible through a selected number of the loops to draw the same together and thus contract said body to form a plurality of pleats therein, said body being formed as a pocket member applicable to said garment, and said edge of said body forming with said garment the opening to said pocket, whereby said body may be ironed flat with said tie unfastened and fastening said tie to draw said loops together pleats said body.

9. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is formed as a pocket member applicable to said garment and one end portion of said body is folded inwardly to provide a hem, and said loops are formed in said hem.

10. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment as set forth in claim 9 wherein said hem has a line of stitching extending from end to end of its inner edge to secure the hem to the remaining part of said body, and said hem has spaced pairs of slits, the slits of each pair defining one of the loops between them.

11. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is formed as a pocket member applicable to a garment, one end portion of said body is folded inwardly to provide a hem, the loops are formed in said hem and the hem has a line of stitching extending from end to end of its inner edge to secure the hem to the remaining part of said body.

12. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is formed as a pocket member applicable to a garment, one end portion of said body being formed inwardly to pro vide a hem, the loops being formed in said hem, said hem having spaced pairs of slits with the slits of each pair defining one of the loops between them, and the hem has a line of stitching extending from end to end of its inner edge to secure the hem to the remaining part of said body with the line of stitching extending across one end of said slits to reinforce the loops at said end.

13. A pleating for an external surface of a washable garment as set forth in claim 12 wherein said hem has short lines of stitching paralleling the first mentioned line of stitching and extending across the other ends of the slits defining each pair of loops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,185 Mayper Apr. 7, 1908 1,560,937 Jenkins Nov. 10, 1925 1,990,313 Sussrnan Feb. 5, 1935 2,302,630 Hess Nov. 17, 1942 2,398,538 Koret Apr. 16, 1946 

